CWSRF Helene Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Systems) Program
This program offers septic repair and replacement, needs assessment, and septic-to-sewer connection funding in all counties under the Hurricane Helene emergency designation (39 North Carolina counties were designated for federal disaster assistance under DR-4827-NC).
The State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) awarded funding to four non-profit organizations (Western Piedmont Council of Governments, MountainTrue, Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas and Water Well Trust), that will work with property owners with damaged and failing septic systems to provide funding to repair and rehabilitate those systems. Property owners may contact the organizations serving their counties for funding assistance. The Authority also awarded three projects that will replace septic systems with sewer connections in Chimney Rock Village and the Town of Laurel Park and conduct septic system repairs and an assessment in a community in Yancey County.
Program Funding
The American Relief Act, 2025 provides supplemental State Revolving Fund (SRF) resources to help communities strengthen and repair drinking water, wastewater and decentralized (septic) wastewater systems impacted by Hurricane Helene.
In North Carolina, the Division of Water Infrastructure was awarded $22.5 million to be made available for decentralized wastewater repair and resilience (CWSRF Helene Decentralized). The organizations named below have been funded by SWIA and are ready to work with property owners. Additional funds are being requested from federal and state sources.
Septic Repair Program Awardees & Points of Contact
Property owners in these counties with damaged or failing septic systems may contact administrators of these programs for funding assistance to repair or replace their septic systems, regardless of whether their property was directly damaged by Hurricane Helene. Priority may be given to Helene-damaged septic systems.
The organizations may work directly with property owners on replacements of septic systems as early as the first quarter of 2027.
Administrator | Counties Served | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Western Piedmont Council of Governments working with High Country Council of Governments | Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey | Doug Wise doug.wise@wpcog.org (828) 322-5991 |
| MountainTrue and Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas working with Haywood Waterways | Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Swain | Hartwell Carson For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, contact: John Allar |
| Water Well Trust | Cabarrus, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Nash, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union, Yadkin | Elizabeth McClain info@waterwelltrust.org |
Other Projects Awarded to Local Government Units
| Local Government Unit | Project |
|---|---|
| Chimney Rock Village | Septic-to-sewer connections in specific project areas |
| Yancey County | Septic repairs and cluster needs assessment in the Green Mountain community |
| Town of Laurel Park | Septic-to-sewer connections in specific project areas |
Awardee Guidance and Documentation
The following documentation provides guidance for program requirements and compliance for awardees.
- Scope of Work Guidance
- RFQ Guidance (document forthcoming)
- Contractor Compliance and Required Information (document forthcoming)
- Septic Permitting Quick Guide (document forthcoming)
- Approved flood resiliency measures (document forthcoming)
Other Septic Resources
- DHHS List of County Health Departments
- On-Site Wastewater Laws and Rules | Division of Public Health
- NC Homeowners: Caring for Your Septic System | Division of Public Health
- Septic System Owner's Guide | NC State Extension Publications
- Onsite-Wastewater-User-Guidebook-2023-RCAP-NOWRA.pdf
Program Contact:
Rich Holder
Septic Program Manager
Division of Water Infrastructure
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
rich.holder@deq.nc.gov
(828) 296-4593
Media Contact:
Cathy Akroyd
Public Information Officer
Division of Water Infrastructure
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Cathy.akroyd@deq.nc.gov
(919) 622-0053